Every Kentucky Loan Type. One Local Expert.
Whether you’re buying your first home, using down payment assistance, or rebuilding credit — there’s a program that fits. Compare them side by side before you commit.

🏠 FHA Loan

The go-to for first-time buyers and 580+ credit. Low down payment and flexible guidelines.

3.5% down · 580+ creditLearn More →

🎖 VA Loan

Zero down and no monthly mortgage insurance for veterans and active-duty service members.

$0 down · VA eligibleLearn More →

🌾 USDA Loan

100% financing for eligible rural and suburban Kentucky buyers within income limits.

$0 down · USDA areasLearn More →

🏛 KHC Assistance

Kentucky Housing down payment assistance for first-time and repeat buyers.

Up to $12,500 assistanceLearn More →

📈 Conventional

Best long-term value for stronger credit. PMI cancels at 20% equity, unlike FHA.

3% down · 620+ creditLearn More →

💰 Zero Down Options

Every route to buying with nothing down in Kentucky — VA, USDA, and KHC combos.

$0 down programsLearn More →

🌟 First-Time Buyers

All Kentucky first-time homebuyer programs compared in plain English.

Programs & grantsLearn More →

📊 Credit Scores

What score you actually need for each loan type in 2026 — and how to raise yours.

By loan programLearn More →

Kentucky Mortgage Loan Programs | FHA, VA, USDA & Conventional Guide

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Understanding the Four Main Mortgage Loan Programs in Kentucky When buying a home in Kentucky, your mortgage will typically fall under one of four major loan programs: FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac) . Each program offers unique benefits depending on your credit, income, military status, and location. Below is a streamlined breakdown to help you determine the best fit for your situation. Conventional Loan Minimum down payment: 3%–5% Minimum credit score: 620 (680+ for best pricing) Mortgage insurance can be removed at 80% equity Best for: buyers with strong credit & stable income Bankruptcy wait: 4–7 years Foreclosure wait: 7 years Closing costs can be lender-paid (higher rate) Kentucky USDA Rural Housing Loan 100% financing (0% down) Credit score: 640+ for automated GUS approval Mortgage insurance: .35% monthly, 1% upfront Manual underwriting ratio caps: 29% / 41% Property must be U...
Getting a Kentucky Mortgage in 3 Simple Steps
No confusing paperwork trails. No surprise fees. A clear path from first call to keys in hand.
01

💬 Get Pre-Qualified

Free application review with same-day answers. We look at your credit, income, and goals — no cost, no obligation, no pressure.

02

📋 Compare Your Options

FHA vs. Conventional vs. USDA vs. KHC — run side by side with your actual numbers so you see the real payment before you commit.

03

🏠 Close & Get Your Keys

Guided from contract to closing — appraisal, title, and underwriting coordinated so you always know what happens next.

Watch: Kentucky Mortgage Guides
Straight answers from my YouTube channel — no jargon, no sales pitch.
▶ More videos on my YouTube channel →
Joel Lobb and family - Kentucky mortgage loan officer
Kentucky Local. Not a Call Center.

Hi, I’m Joel Lobb — a Kentucky dad who’s spent 20+ years helping families across all 120 counties buy their first home. When you call, you get me — not a phone tree. Questions on a Saturday morning? I answer.

1,300+ Kentucky families have trusted me with their mortgage — from Louisville to Lexington to the smallest towns in the state. Free application reviews, same-day pre-approvals, and honest answers about what you actually qualify for.

See What You Qualify For →

How to apply for a Kentucky VA Home Loan?


  • Kentucky VA guaranteed home loans benefit veterans because they do not need to make a down payment and there is no upper limit or required cap on the income of the borrower.  Without a down payment as security against foreclosure, lenders receive a certificate of guaranty from VA. 
  •  In essence, as gratitude for honorable military service, the government is vouching for the veteran's trustworthiness to repay his/her debt.  
  • To determine eligibility, a military veteran, active duty person, or a member of the national guard or selected reserves, must submit a VA Form 26-1880 (2 pages) (Form is now in a FILLABLE format - but people with Adobe 5.0 seem to have trouble with it) along with proof of service (DD Form 214, a statement of active duty, or proof of participation in the national guard or reserves) to the VA Eligibility Center, P.O. Box 100034, Attn. COE (@^@), Decatur, GA 30331. 

  •  Based on the applicant's length and type of service, VA issues a certificate for each person determined eligible to apply for a VA guaranteed home loan.  Check the status after ten days by calling 1 (888) 768-2132, option 1, between 8:00 - 4:00 Eastern time.
  1. Viewing and Inspecting the Home
  • Kentucky Home buyers usually use the services of state-licensed real estate agents to: determine an affordable price range, suggest certain home features suitable for the buyer, schedule home tours, negotiate sales contacts and hold earnest money deposits.  
  • State-licensed real estate professional can explain the legal requirements for buyers and sellers, and can refer buyers to local lenders and certified home inspectors.  Buyers should accompany their preferred home inspector during the inspection of the property to ask questions about the home's systems.  
  1. Requesting the Loan
  • Kentucky Home buyers may want to contact a lender even before they sign a contract for a home, so that they can be pre-approved to determine their maximum mortgage amount.  Home buyers who wish to obtain a VA guaranteed loan should make sure that the sales contract includes a phrase, sometimes called a financing contingency, making the contract subject to approval for a Kentucky VA guaranteed loan.  
  • Lenders verify and review past and present job and credit history of home applicants and compare it with VA loan approval guidelines.  If the documents with the loan request cannot be approved, then additional written information must be presented to the lender or the Kentucky VA for further consideration.
  • VA recommends that buyers compare lending terms among several lenders in order to find the best combination of interest rates, discount points, and other negotiable costs for a Kentucky VA guaranteed loan.
  1. Appraising the Property
  • When an eligible veteran contacts a lender to request a Kentucky VA guaranteed loan, the lender obtains a VA number for the request via the Internet.  The lender uses the VA number to monitor progress of the appraisal and loan application.  The lender also sends a VA form to a state-licensed real estate appraiser who will visit the home to give the lender and VA an opinion of the market value of the property. 
  •  The appraisal tells the lender and VA whether the property is expected to be adequate collateral for the requested loan.  Neither the appraisal of the home nor the VA guaranty is a warranty from constructional defects and their resulting repair costs.  Builders and brokers can issue warranties for the condition of the home's structure and systems.
  1. Closing the Sale
  • If the loan and home are approved, the buyer needs to contact a state-licensed insurance agent who will provide homeowner coverage to protect the owner and lender from property damage and loss.  
  • Title to the home is usually examined and insured by a title insurance company that may also prepare closing documents and enter them into public records after the closing. After the home is purchased and the loan is originated, the lender usually sells the active loan to another company which will receive the loan payments and pay the real estate taxes and insurance premiums. 
  1. Closing Costs for Kentucky VA Home Loans
  • VA regulates the closing costs that a veteran can be charged when obtaining a VA home loan. The closing cost regulation is designed to keep lenders from charging veterans those closing costs that VA has determined as being beneficial to the lender and not necessarily beneficial to the veteran. For a list of allowable and unallowable closing costs, please follow the link below.


  1. Prequalifying Worksheet
  • The Prequalifying Worksheet will give you a general idea of what you can afford, and whether you are within VA underwriting guidelines for approval.  This Prequalifying Worksheet is not a commitment to lend, nor can it be used to determine whether a lender will approve the Kentucky VA loan.   Please note, the Prequalifying Worksheet is in Excel format.   Prequalifying Worksheet    


Mortgage Application Checklist of Documents Needed 


below  👇



W-2 forms (previous 2 years)
Paycheck stubs (last 30 days - most current)
Employer name and address (2 year history including any gaps)
Bank accounts statement (recent 2 months – all pages
Statements for 401(k)s, stocks and other investments (most recent)
federal tax returns (previous 2 years)
Residency history (2 year history)
Photo identification for applicant and co-applicant (valid Driver’s License





click on link for mortgage pre-approval


Joel Lobb (NMLS#57916)


Senior Loan Officer

American Mortgage Solutions, Inc.
10602 Timberwood Circle Suite 3
Louisville, KY 40223


Company ID #1364 | MB73346

Text/call 502-905-3708


kentuckyloan@gmail.com



If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation, or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for a loan, please contact us at 502-905-3708.


Disclaimer: No statement on this site is a commitment to make a loan. Loans are subject to borrower qualifications, including income, property evaluation, sufficient equity in the home to meet Loan-to-Value requirements, and final credit approval. Approvals are subject to underwriting guidelines, interest rates, and program guidelines and are subject to change without notice based on applicant's eligibility and market conditions. Refinancing an existing loan may result in total finance charges being higher over the life of a loan. Reduction in payments may reflect a longer loan term. Terms of any loan may be subject to payment of points and fees by the applicant Equal Opportunity Lender. NMLS#57916http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/


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